Stephen d



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

S. D. TUCKER. DELIVERY MEGHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES. No. 408,390.Patented Aug. 6, 1889*.

(No Model) '2 SheetsSheet 2.

S. D. TUCKER.

DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES. No. 408,390. Patented Aug. 6,1889.

N. PETERS. Vholo-Lhhugmphcr, Washington, 0.0.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN D. TUCKER, OE NEXV YORK, N. Y.

DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,390, dated August6, 1889. Application filed January 14, 1888. $en'al No. 260,708. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN D. TUCKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at New Yorlgconnty of New York, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Delivery Mechanism forPrinting-Machines, fully described and represented in thefollowingspecification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthe same.

This invention relates to a delivery apparatus for a printing-machinewhich is especially designed to meet the wants of those publishers whodesire to issue newspapers the size or volume of which varies withdifferent issues. It frequentlyhappens that for this purpose it is mostdesirable to change the size of the sheet, and such change can be mostconveniently effected by increasing or decreasing the number or lengthof columns in the page and using a web of correspondingly greater orless width.

The present invention relates particularly to an organization oflongitudinal folders for use in connection with a web-printingmechanism, which enables webs of different widths to be operated upon bysaid folders and properly folded.

As a full understanding of the invention can be best given by anillustration and a de tailed description of the manner in which it isembodied in a delivery mechanism, such description will be given,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 isan end elevation of a delivery mechanism embodying the invention. Fig. 2is a plan view of the same, certain parts being broken away to moreclearly show underlying parts. Fig. 3 is apartial side elevation lookingfrom the left of Fig. 1. Fig. at is an irregular vertical section,showing particularly the manner of supporting the longitudinal folders.Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged views illustrating a detail which will behereinafter explained.

Referring to said figu res, it is to be understood that the deliverymechanism therein illustrated is designed to operate in connection witha webprinting mechanism which perfects a double-width web, and consists,essentially, of the two longitudinal folders A B, arranged side by side,two transverse cut-- ting and folding mechanisms consisting of thecylinders a b and their auxiliaries, and

class which are composed of internal guides and external turners, whichoperate to fold a web or sheets upon the run, and, as hereinillustrated, they are of substantially the construction shown anddescribed in United States Letters Patent No. 331,280,and need nottherefore be described in detail. It is to be remarked, however, thatthese folders may be of any of the otherforms commonin this class offolders. These folders, as before stated, are arranged side by side, andare each provided, in addition to the usual external turners 2, with apair of fold-laying rolls 3. The folders A B, together with theirexternal turners 2 and fold-laying rolls 3, instead of being supportedin fixed positions in the main frame O, are supported in supplementalframes D, which are arranged within the main frame 0, and are supportedupon the said main frame so as to be adjustable laterally thereon, sothat the folders A B and their adjuncts can be moved to and from eachother.

For the purpose of readily adjusting the frames carrying the foldersthey are provided with nuts 4, in which work right and left hand screwsformed upon the rods 5,

which are supported in bearings secured to the main frame 0 so as to beincapable of longitudinal movement therein, and are provided withhand-wheels 19, by which they can be conveniently operated.

The cutting, and folding mechanisms (rep: resented by the cylinders a band their auxiliaries) may be of any suitable construction. Suchmechanisms, being well known in the art, need not be herein describedindetail.

The remaining features in the construction conducted over the usual roll6 at the tops of the longitudinal folders. After passing the roll 6, orat some other convenient point before arriving at the folders, the webwill be acted upon by a slitter 7, so as to be split centrally into twoWebs f, each of which will be led over its respective longitudinalfolder. In passing 1 he folders the webs f will be folded longitudinallyin the usual manner, and will then pass into the control of thecylinders a b and be severed into sheets, which sheets will be foldedand delivered to and piled by the fiies.

Assuming, now, thatit is desired to produce and deliver a productconsisting of sheets of less than the maximum size, if the columns runaround the cylinders, one or more columns will be omitted from the formsand a web F of correspondingly less width will be used. This web afterbeing perfected willbe split into two webs, which will be led over theirrespective longitudinal folders the same as first described. The web Fbeing in this case less than the maximum width, the webs 5 f will ofcourse be of proportionately less width, and it will readily be seenthat if the folders A B remained in the same' position when operatingupon these narrower webs that they formerly occupied the webs would notpass over the folders in position to be folded centrally, and as aresult the sheets produced would not be properly folded. lVhen,therefore, the width of the webs f is reduced so as to produce sheets ofless than the maximum size, the frames D carrying the folders A B, areadjusted inward toward each other, which can readily be done byoperating the screw-rods 5 so as to bring the folders into such positionthat the webs will pass over the folders in position to be foldedcentrally. The operation will then be the same as first described. Topermit the folders to be thus adjusted toward each other, theinnerinternal guides 8 of the two folders where they come together andintersect at the tops of the folders are provided with a removableV-shaped portion. 9, (see Figs. 5 and 6,) which is secured in positionby bolts 10, and can be readily removed to allow the two folders to beadjusted toward each other and inserted to form continuations of theinternal guides 8 when the folders are adjusted from each other to actupon webs of the maximum width.

The rolls 3 are geared together in the usual manner, and are driventhrough intermediates 20 from gears upon the cylinders a b. Theintermediates 20 are carried by the frames D,

' webs.

but are so positioned that the movement of the frames in adjusting thepositions of the folders will not carry them out of engagement with thegears upon the cylinders a b. The remaining gearing for imparting motionto the various parts of the delivery apparatus is for the most partshown in the draw- 7 ings; but such gearing is of the ordinary form andarrangement, and will be readily understood without a detaileddescription. The roll 6, over which the web passes at the tops of thefolders, is positively driven, and in order to secure a positive feed ofthe webs at this point this roll is provided with a companion roll 11,the two forming a pair of feed-rolls for the The roll 11 is mounted inthe ends of a pair of arms 12, extending from a rock-shaft 13, having ahand-lever 14, by which it can be rocked so as to raise the roll 11 awayfrom the roll 6 to facilitate the introduction of the web in starting.The slitter 7 is carried upon a shaft which is j ournaled in the ends ofarms 15, extending from a rock-shaft 16, which is also provided with alever 17, by which the slitter can be raised out of operative positionfor the samepurpose. The lever 17 is connected by a link 18 with thelever 14, so that the movement of the latter lever serves to raise boththe roll 11 and the slitter.

As herein illustrated, the delivery apparatus is capacitated to deliveronly single sheets; but it will of course be understood that byproviding the usual web-associatin g mechanism the two webs f can beassociated and led over one of the folders, if it should be desired inany case to capacitate the mechanism to produce and deliver productsconsisting of two sheets. As herein shown, also, the transverse cuttingand folding mechanisms are arranged at right angles to theprinting-cylinders; but if it should be preferred to arrange thesemechanisms parallel with the printing-cylinders it can readily be doneby employing a web turner or turners to turn the web at right angles tothe direction in which it leaves the printing mechanism. It is also tobe understood that three or more longitudinal folders may be arrangedside by side and made adjustable in the same manner as described inconnection with the two folders.

lVhat I claim is l. The combination of a plurality of longitudinalfolders composed of internal guides and external turners, said foldersbeing arranged side by side and adjustable to and from each other,substantially as described.

2. The combination of a plurality of longitudinal folders composed ofinternal guides and external turners, said folders being arranged sideby side, and each mounted in an adjustable supplemental frame D, wherebythey can be adjusted to and from each other, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the stationary cutting and folding mechanisms aZ), of the longitudinal folders A B, composed of inter- ITO 11211 guidesand extennal turners, said folders In testimony whereof I have hereuntoset being arranged side by side and adjustable my hand in the presenceof two subscmblng to and from each other, substantially as de-Witnesses.

scribed. 5 4. The combination, with the longitudinal STEPHEN D. TUCKER.

folders A B, arranged side by side and adjustable to and from eachother, of the re Witnesses; movable supplemental piece 9, forming eX-CHAs. WV. CARPENTER, tensions of the two inner internal guides of CECILD. LANDALE.

10 the folders, substantially as described.

